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"You are the future leaders"

9. aoû 2014

Dear Brother and Sister Scouts

It is a great, inspiring and motivating moment for me to join you on the last day of the 12th World Scout Youth Forum. For the first time, I am participating in a Youth Forum as your Secretary General.

Let me first take the opportunity to say a special word of “thanks” to the outgoing Youth Advisors, and I ask that they stand: Felipe de Paulo, Esben Holager, Sarah-Rita Kattan, Doina Postica and Vemund Ovesen.

Your contributions, as well as bringing energy, eagerness and creativity to the eight World Scout Committee meetings held during the Triennium, have been invaluable.

I know that my predecessor, Luc Panissod, joins me in my message to you: you have done a stellar job. Thank you!

Your predecessors have raised the bar. But I am convinced that you too will bring your valuable input and insights to the World Scout Committee as well as to the World Scout Youth Forum Planning Committee. I am looking forward to your advice and ideas over the next three years.

Please join me in giving both the outgoing and incoming Youth Advisors a big round of applause!

I have been to numerous Scout events in my many years in Scouting. So why is it that the Youth Forum is always so special, inspiring and motivating?

Well, you have come together from all corners of the world to meet in order to increase your knowledge, to acquire or practice skills as well as to learn about communication, interaction and decision-making.

You have come together to discuss seriously about the issues we face in today’s complex world and to search for solutions that will positively impact society.

You have come together in order to decide on relevant and important aspects of World Scouting, to elect new Youth Advisors to the World Scout Committee, and to make recommendations to the World Scout Conference.

And – of course – you’ve come together to share great moments and to make friends for life! Friends unified across continents, countries, religions, and languages.

Seeing all of you here – and that in itself is inspiring and motivating – reminds me of the strength and the unique possibilities that you have to initiate and maintain change based on the Scout values within and outside our Movement. Change in society that is needed more than ever before, as we cannot take peace for granted.

The idea that some day the 12th World Scout Youth Forum – and the 40th World Scout Conference – will be marked down as the tipping point for the World Scout Movement in taking an even stronger role in contributing to peace and understanding around the world really motivates and inspires me.

You will have a key role to play in bringing this idea to life. You already have a lot of responsibilities in your NSOs.
You are the future leaders in your families, among your friends, in your jobs, your communities, in your countries and, I hope also, in our Movement.

Leadership requires knowledge, skills, application and attitude. You were able, I hope, to enhance and practise all these during the Youth Forum. Leadership also needs a sense of ownership and responsibility. You have demonstrated your sense of responsibility outstandingly in the way you held your discussions and took decisions during the past days.

Thank you for that!

Looking ahead I cannot stress enough how important your contributions to World Scouting are. I ask all of you for your support to achieve my mission of better Scouting for more young people.

WOSM counts on your support to achieve our objective to increase the number of Scouts around the world from over 40 million now to a potential 100 million within a decade. And I am sure the outcome of the 12th World Scout Youth Forum will help immensely in accomplishing our ambitious targets.

Together we need to give every young person we possibly can the opportunity to join a local Scout group. It is there that our values are shared. It is there that leadership skills are learned and practiced. It is there that you can positively impact society and initiate change.

Each and every one of you will return home fully empowered and encouraged by the skills acquired, discussions held, decisions taken, experiences made and friendships built or deepened.

I am convinced your enthusiasm and commitment to live our Scout values will be infectious.

On this note, let me thank the Scout Association of Slovenia and the numerous volunteers for having been terrific hosts and for having worked day and night with our WSB staff to prepare and organise the 12th World Scout Youth Forum.

Thank you all!

For those staying for the World Scout Conference, I’ll see you again very soon. For others, I wish you safe travels back to your homes. But before you actually leave here tonight, I wish you a most unforgettable and spectacular evening.

My name is Scott Teare.
I am a Scout.
I am a Messenger of Peace.
I am proud to serve as your Secretary General!

Scott A. Teare
Secretary General
World Organization of the Scout Movement